I watched Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s rehearse their Strictly Come Dancing statement before they went live to the nation, here’s the off-camera moments you missed
Strictly Come Dancing’s Icon Week marked the first live show since the bombshell news the hosts were leaving after 11 years.
All eyes were on Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as they stepped onto the dancefloor – would they mention their exit? Would they show any hint of what is sure to have been an emotionally charged week?
Sitting in the studio audience at Elstree and Borehamwood, I got the first glimpse as the duo faced the music just days after releasing an exit video that appeared to blindside fans of the show, the contestants and even the judges.
The presenters came out together beaming with Claudia in a chic silk shirt and high-waisted trousers and Tess looking as glam as ever in a navy jumpsuit. So far nothing seemed any different to any other week on the dance show.
On the clock the hosts had minimal time to spare before going live to the nation on BBC One.
After fronting the show together since 2014 – and even longer for Tess who hosted with Bruce Forsyth for another seven years prior to that – the pair are the reliable faces of a well-oiled Strictly machine. They have little need for rehearsal in front of the live audience – made up of lucky ballot ticket holders and the friends and family of the contestants.
But tonight there was one thing they did want to get absolutely right, their parting statement. It was the only segment the pair ran through prior to the show.
”Just before we get started, Claude and I announced this week that this will be our last series of Strictly Come Dancing,” began Tess.
The bustling studio fell totally silent as the audience realised they were about to see just how Tess and Claudia would handle the news.
“We want to thank you for your beautiful messages,” Claudia continued. “We’ve got another eight weeks on this incredible show and a Strictly champion to crown.”
“We can’t wait to spend the rest of the series with you, the couples and these four – please welcome the judges!” cried Claudia, before the brief rehearsal concluded and they softened to relax.
I watched as Tess took a breath and put a hand to Claudia’s arm before rubbing her sleeve gently in a show of support.
It was the same gesture Tess had repeated when they first arrived in the studio as she gave her co-host an affectionate greeting.
“Oh no the fake tan!” Tess cried as she feared damaging Claudia’s fresh white blouse within seconds of seeing her.
“It’s OK don’t worry. It’s going back in the morning,” I heard Claudia quip back as Tess burst into a fit of giggles.
After watching the pair interact both on and off camera throughout the night, the love the women have for each other and the show is clear. They seem genuinely good friends and seem to care a lot about every contestant too.
It makes news of their exit this week all the more shocking.
“We love you all,” I saw an emotional Tess cry out to the couples nervously poised behind her before she revealed the results of the vote off that will air on Sunday night.
Before final dances, an-off camera Claudia also called out a ‘Good luck’ message from her ‘Claudatorium’ to the unlucky couples braced to perform for a final time.
“I’ve always believed it’s best to leave a party before you’re fully ready to go,” Claudia said during the announcement tonight – after watching the duo in action tonight, it seems she might be right.
The genuine affection Tess and Claudia have for the BBC’s reality TV juggernaut appears to have infiltrated to all areas – with many other touching displays of emotion being caught off-camera.
After the live show concluded, I watched as Amber Davies made a beeline straight for Dani Dyer who was sitting in the audience next to fellow Strictly ‘casualty’ Stefan Dennis.
Amber took Dani’s place on the show after the former Love Islander was forced to withdraw after breaking her ankle in training before the first live show. It’s clear to see the pair have bonded over the experience with no hard-feelings shared.
Though you can’t help but think how it must have stung for Dani to have watched Amber dance so well with her partner Nikita to Ariana Grande on Icon’s week – knowing she’s a huge fan of the US pop star herself.
After the cameras stopped rolling, actress Balvinder Sopal also got a hug from a famous face in the crowd – with her former on-screen husband Navin Chowdhry waiting in the wings to give her a big hug.
It’s been a disheartening few weeks on Strictly for Balvinder, who admitted to the Mirror she’d had a ‘meltdown’ after being in the bottom two twice.
After impressing with her Beyonce Quickstep, an emotional Balvinder looked thrilled to have the support of her co-star who rushed over to congratulate on her performance.
“I’ve had meltdowns and things,” Balvinder admitted this week. “And I’m like, ‘holy hell. I’ve been lying about being optimistic’. I beat myself up and I’m sometimes a little bit derogatory but there’s no need to be that way. When you get on that floor, there is a fear of judgment and rejection. But what I have to remember is that I’ve put myself there.”